$284,726Average Value$210Average Price per Sq Ft20Homes For Sale
Rural community with water sports and holiday parties
“Babson Park is a small community with a wonderful quality of life,” says Julie Seay, a Broker Associate for Coldwell Banker Realty who has lived in the area since the 1970s. “It’s close to Crooked Lake which is super clean and perfect for water sports like boating and jet skiing; students go to great schools and neighbors celebrate holidays together.” In rural Babson Park, which is set eight miles south of downtown Lake Wales, cars are the main source of transportation; locals stroll along the sandy paths of the Babson Park Nature Center or watch for nighthawks at the Crooked Lake Prairie nature preserve. Four-bedroom ranch and Mediterranean-style homes sell within three months, and kids can attend highly rated Polk County district schools.
Ranch and Mediterranean-style homes from the 1950s to the early 2000s
Narrow streets offer up to four-bedroom ranch and Mediterranean-style homes on up to half-acre lots; most were built during the 1950s through the early 2000s and average $262,000. Many feature concrete, gravel or dirt-packed driveways that can hold up to two cars, with space between homes for additional parking; some also have attached carports or detached one-car garages. Front and back yards are enclosed by wooden or metal fences and are large enough to grow flower gardens or install swing sets; mature, oak, pine and palm trees provide shade to a quarter of the neighborhood.
On the shores of Crooked Lake, the up to four-bedroom ranch-style and split-level homes on one-acre lots start at $500,000; many offer two-car garages with concrete or gravel-packed driveways for up to four cars or 3 cars and a boat. Mature oak and palm trees provide shade to front yards, and back yards are large enough for concrete patios or wooden decks. Elsewhere, planned subdivisions feature vacant lots of up to 2 acres starting at $25,000.
Well-manicured lawns are a frequent sight in the Babson Park neighborhood.
In the Babson Park neighborhood, split-level homes are charming and colorful.
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Esports competitions
Kids may attend Polk County district schools like Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary and Frostproof Middle, which respectively earn a B-grade and B-minus from Niche. Frostproof also serves as the area’s high school where students can try out to compete in esports tournaments.
Welcome to Babson Park Elementary.
Bass, bluegill and tarflowers
Residents spend the afternoon catching largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish on the shores of Crooked Lake; others use the site to launch their own boats and jet skis or cool off with a swim. One mile north, residents walk the quarter-mile sandy path through the Babson Park Nature Center where birdwatchers spot nighthawks and common ground-doves the size of sparrows.
Fine sandy soil mixed with widely spaced pine trees and wiregrass are natural features of the 525-acre Crooked Lake Prairie nature preserve. Here residents hike the preserve’s 2-mile sandy trails, keeping an eye out for up to 8-foot tall tarflower shrubs with white to pinkish flowers and Monarch butterflies that are drawn to the white star-shaped flower petals of the milkweed plant; many also spot bald eagles, turkeys and gopher tortoises.
Babson Park residents have access to public sandy nature trails.
Snow crab leg and fried shrimp
Decorated with plastic bass, fishing poles and tin signs, residents chow down on the Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern’s snow crab leg and fried shrimp entrees while listening to live acoustic music. The owners, Tim and Tammy Bracewell, pride themselves on serving everyone, even people who are “low on cash,” says Tammy. “Folks will stop in on a regular basis for a hot meal knowing there will be no charge.” Most shopping takes place outside of the neighborhood: Publix Super Market is 8 miles northwest, while 12 miles north at the Eagle Ridge Mall, locals can hit up department stores like Dillard’s.
Enjoy a night with the family at Crooked Bass.
A view inside of Crooked Bass.
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A boat parade and fireworks on the Fourth of July
Draped with bright lights and red, white and blue flags and sashes, locals parade their boats around Crooked Lake every Fourth of July; neighbors are invited to sit on the shore and watch while enjoying “an amazing fireworks display often donated by someone in the area,” says Seay.
Cars are a must have
There’s no public transportation here, so residents are dependent on their cars; most travel U.S. Route 17/Scenic Highway to get to businesses outside of the neighborhood. To the northwest, AdventHealth Lake Wales Hospital is an 8-mile trip, and the Lake Wales Municipal Airport is 10 miles away.
Written By
Swaay Cook
Photography Contributed By
Jeffery Palmer
Video By
Remi Cox
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Paula Davis Meyers,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Babson Park, FL sell after 83 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Babson Park, FL over the last 12 months is $350,000, up 34% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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